jason aquino

Sen. Bam to NFA: Paghandaan ang bagyo, bumawi sa taumbayan

The National Food Authority (NFA) will have a chance to redeem itself by ensuring the sufficient supply of rice in areas that are expected to be hit by typhoon Ompong, according to Sen. Bam Aquino. 

“Tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan at siguruhing hindi magugutom ang mga nasalanta,” said Sen. Bam. 

“Dapat nang bumawi ng NFA sa kapalpakan ng kanilang administrador. This is an opportunity for NFA to step up in serving our countrymen,” added Sen. Bam, referring to the blunders of NFA administrator Jason Aquino that affected the supply of affordable rice in the market.

President Duterte is looking for Jason Aquino’s replacement after he asked to be relieved from his post.

Sen. Bam said the NFA must ensure that there is enough stock of rice in warehouses located in areas that will be affected by the typhoon. 

“Gamitin ang teknolohiya at mga harvester para tulungan ang mga magsasaka. Buksan ang mga warehouse sa mga magsasakang kailangang protektahan ang kanilang ani,” said Sen. Bam. 

Super typhoon Mangkhut, which will be known as Ompong when it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility, is expected to pack 200 to 220 kilometers per hour of wind. It is expected to pass through Cagayan province, Batanes and Babuyan Group of Islands before heading to Taiwan. 

On Monday, Sen. Bam delivered a sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 1211 or the Philippine Space Act as chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology. 

Sen. Bam said the measure, if enacted into law, can strengthen the country’s mitigation and response to natural calamities and disasters. 

The measure is aimed at beefing up existing government programs on disaster prevention, including the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s disaster risk management, PAGASA’s astronomical science programs and National Mapping & Resource Information Agency’s satellite information gathering.

Sen. Bam to NFA Administrator: Mahiya ka naman, mag-resign ka na

Sen. Bam Aquino questioned the government’s failure to lower the prices of rice in the market despite its promise that rice importation will solve the problem. 

“Sino na ba ang nagmamando sa bansa? Itong malaking krisis sa bigas, hindi man lang masolusyunan,” questioned Sen. Bam. 

“Nag-import sila para maresolba ang problema pero mukhang lumala pa ngayon ang sitwasyon at nauwi sa rice crisis sa Zamboanga City,” added Sen. Bam. 

Sen. Bam’s pronouncement came in the light of Zamboanga City’s plan to declare a state of calamity due to rice shortage. Prices of rice in the city went up to a high as P68 per kilo, with the lowest being sold at P55 per kilo. 

Earlier, the government approved the importation of 500,000 metric tons of rice to address the lack of supply of affordable NFA rice in the market.  

“Saan napunta ang ipinagmamalaking inangkat ng National Food Authority (NFA) para mapababa ang presyo ng bigas sa mga palengke?” asked Sen. Bam. 

Sen. Bam expressed fear that the imported NFA rice could land in the hands of traders who will sell it for a higher price, putting more burden on the shoulder of poor Filipinos. 

Sen. Bam renewed his call for the resignation of some NFA officials, led by its administrator Jason Aquino, for their failure to address the problem of lack of supply of affordable rice in the market.

“Mahiya naman sila sa taumbayan at mag-resign na. Dahil sa kanilang kapalpakan, nalulunod ang mga pamilyang Pilipino sa taas ng presyo ng bigas,” said Sen. Bam.

Earlier, Sen. Bam urged the NFA administrator to quit his post due to the agency’s failure to fulfil the 15-day buffer stock policy for almost one year, beginning March 2017. 

Sen. Bam: NFA still prone to mismanagement, corruption

What about the corruption allegations surrounding National Food Authority administrator Jason Aquino?

Sen. Bam Aquino said the government should look into allegations against Aquino rather than entrust him with the task of importing thousands of metric tons of rice.

“Dahil sa kanyang kapalpakan, tumaas ang presyo ng bigas at nadagdagan ang pasan ng pamilyang Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam, who earlier called for the resignation of the NFA administrator.

”Ano na ba ang nangyari sa mga alegasyon laban sa pamunuan ng NFA? Ngayong may dumating na bigas, baka maulit lang ang nangyari at maubos na naman agad ang buffer stock sa kamay ng mga traders,” added Sen. Bam.

During a Senate hearing on the rice issue, Jason Aquino admitted that the agency failed to comply with required 15-day buffer stock since last year. 

 Sen. Bam said this drove the prices of commercial rice up, burdening poor Filipino families further.

“Nangyari ito dahil sa kapabayaan ng NFA sa kanilang tungkulin, at hindi dahil sa NFA Council,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the President’s removal of the powers of NFA Council chairman and Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. was unnecessary and leaves the NFA even more prone to corruption and impunity.

“Bakit sinisisi si Evasco na ang tanging gusto lang ay hindi mahaluan ng katiwalian ang proseso ng pag-aangkat ng bigas,” said Sen. Bam. 

Evasco was pushing for a government-to-private mode of procurement to make the process more transparent while Aquino wanted a government-to-government mode, which is prone to corruption.

 

Sen. Bam: Stop recycling of corrupt officials

The President is sending mixed messages again, this time on the issue of corruption. 
 
May malinaw na double standard sa patuloy na pag recycle sa mga opisyal na nasasangkot sa anomalya gaya nina Nicanor Faeldon, Jason Aquino at iba pa. 
 
Kung seryoso tayo sa pagpapatupad ng mga hangarin laban sa korapsyon, hindi na ibabalik ang mga opisyal na nasangkot sa korupsyon at kakasuhan ang mga ito.
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